Fires ravage southern Bulgaria

SOFIA, Bulgaria— Fires continue to burn across parts of Southern Bulgaria, threatening a number of villages, according to local reports.

Record high temperatures, ranging between 38 C and 43 C, contributed to the fires, which broke out throughout the country last week. The heat wave is forecast to continue this week.

In the regions of Haskovo and Stara Zagora, the fires have affected about 1,200 hectares of forests and damages will exceed 1 million Bulgarian leva (€511,500), the Bulgarian News Agency reported Monday.

Fire also broke out Monday morning in Sofia's Alexandrovska Hospital in an empty ward and was put out about three hours later, the news agency reported.